GOVERNOR LINGLE PRESENTS INNOVATION AWARDS
For Immediate Release: September 22, 2008
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today recognized three recipients of the Governor’s Innovation Awards for their ingenuity and commitment to developing creative ways to improve Hawai‘i and help the state meet the challenges of the 21st century.
This month’s innovators include a business that is leading the charge on renewable energy technology, a Kailua man who gives a new meaning to putting words on paper, and a government agency whose actions are a sign of the times.
“Our most recent Innovation Award winners are outstanding examples of the ingenuity and innovation of Hawai‘i residents, businesses and government agencies,” said Governor Lingle. “They are applying creative ideas and developing new technologies that will transform our economy away from an over-reliance on land development and position Hawai‘i to compete successfully in the global, 21st century marketplace.”
Governor Lingle initiated the Governor’s Innovation Award in May of this year to acknowledge and encourage innovation across all sectors statewide. The awards, which are presented monthly, recognize deserving individuals, companies, nonprofits, organizations and government agencies that are developing innovative products, services and processes. The award is part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative, a comprehensive plan to transform Hawai‘i’s economy from one dependent on land development to one that builds on human ingenuity and the ability of Hawai‘i’s people to innovate.
This month’s Governor’s Innovation Award recipients are:
Innovation by an Organization: Sopogy, Inc.
Sopogy, Inc. develops and manufactures renewable energy technology systems, including innovative and affordable solar collectors. The technology developed by Sopogy can provide the co-generation of electricity, process heat and solar air conditioning from one hybrid system with cost-effective energy storage and power delivery.
Sopogy won the National Society of Professional Engineers’ (NSPE) New Product of the Year Award for its Solar Power Collector SopoNova 4.0 at the NSPE’s Annual Conference this year in Portland, Oregon. Sopogy is the first renewable energy and solar technology company ever to be awarded this honor. The NSPE New Product of the Year Awards look for “new and improved products that stimulate the life and growth of our country.”
Innovation by an Individual: Ken Berkun
Building on a technology that people around the world use every day, Kailua resident Ken Berkun found an innovative way to create a “talking” barcode label. Berkun designed a special barcode that when scanned, plays back a recorded message. While consumers are used to the “beep” that results when a barcode is scanned, Berkun’s barcode technology produces recorded sounds or messages. His company, Labels That Talk, plans initially to target the technology to the scrapbooking industry, in which the talking labels can be used as audio photo captions.
A specially designed, hand-held scanning device can be used to record the sound or message, and the barcode can be made by connecting the device to a home or office printer. When the hand-held device is waved over the bar code, the sound or message is instantly reproduced. The product, called Soundpaper, can eventually be applied to pharmaceutical labels, greeting cards, aids for the blind, and children’s books, among others. Berkun says his Soundpaper product could be available on the market within a year.
Innovation in Government: Department of Transportation, Highways Division
As part of the State’s continuing efforts to lead by example when it comes to increasing Hawai‘i’s energy independence, the Department of Transportation (DOT) in July installed new, highly reflective, overhead traffic signs along Moanalua Freeway, which will help the state lower its electricity costs. The use of high-performance “retroreflecitve” sign sheeting means electricity will no longer be needed to light the green overhead freeway signs. Instead they will be illuminated by ambient lights and vehicle head lights.
The higher grade sheeting material not only reduces energy costs, but eliminates maintenance work on the existing overhead light bulbs. Long-term electrical savings amount to about $14,000 a year. Maintenance work that goes into replacing the overhead light bulbs is estimated at $30,000 a year.
DOT traffic engineers will assess the effectiveness of the high-intensity sign sheeting, including public comments, to determine if the reflective signs should be installed in other locations around the state.
The Governor’s Innovation Award nominees were evaluated by a 15-member selection panel comprised of industry, education and government representatives statewide. Nominations were submitted online and were judged on creativity; effectiveness in achieving a goal or purpose; transferability and adoptability by others; and significance in addressing an important local or global issue, problem or opportunity. The selection committee provided final recommended nominations to Governor Lingle for her selection.
For additional information or to submit a nomination, visit www.hawaii.gov/gov/innovation-award.
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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043
